7 Reasons You Should Be Getting More Massages

Getting a massage is a pretty decadent thing to do. But did you know that there are actually tons of reasons to get more massages that have nothing to do with just needing a spa day? Although needing a spa day is certainly a good reason to get a massage. According to Aaron Tanason, registered massage therapist, kinesiologist and owner at Paleolife Massage Therapy in Toronto massage is like medicine for your entire body. “Massage increases and improves circulation. Just like rubbing your elbow when you knock it on a table helps to relieve the pain,” he told Best Health Magazine.

And circulation has to do with pretty much everything else going on in your body.
So if you feel a little guilty about spending money on massages (or, ahem, your partner or friends are), tell them that it’s medically necessary! Because technically, it kind of is.

Here are all the reasons you need to be getting on a massage table more often.

1. Massages can readjust your posture.
Sitting all day and leaning over our phones all the time is so not good for our posture. Regular massages can help straighten you out and ease some of the pain in your neck and back. According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massages can release all of this tension.

2. Massages really helps with sleep.
Regular full-body massages also help with circulation, which means that you’ll likely sleep better at night. If you find that you have insomnia or aren’t sleeping well, signing up for a massage every week can do wonders. You know how important sleep is right? You need this massage.

3. Massages can help your anxiety.
Massages are known to alleviate stress all around. You probably already know this — if you’ve gotten a massage before, you know how good it feels. According to one study from Korea though, even a simple hand massage can lower your blood pressure and heart rate. That’s good stuff.

4. Massages help with your headaches.
If you get chronic headaches or migraines, first, make sure you tell y our doctor because that could be a sign of something else. But if you already know why you get these headaches and just need a more natural way to manage them, massages are your new best friend. The research shows that you need to get a lot of them, though, to make this work. A study found that people who get two half-hour massages a week had less chronic headaches.

5. Massages help all kinds of pain.
If you’re an athlete or just have any kind of pain, you’ve probably already heard that massages can help. Well, what are you waiting for? Painkillers are great and all, but they can be risky. Getting a massage will help you through it and leave you nice and relaxed. What’s not to love?

6. Massages reduce the effects of chemo or other treatments.
Research shows that if you’ve undergone or undergoing chemotherapy for cancer or any other intense treatment for an illness, you should add a massage into the mix. Studies have shown that massage can reduce the instances of nausea in patients. When you feel sick, anything is worth a shot.

7. Massages boost your mood.
Studies have found that massages totally make you happy. So if you’re going through some stuff, book even a 30-minute massage. You’ll feel better, according to science.